The Mizen Topsail, Which Was A Comparatively
New Sail, And Close-Reefed, Split, From Head To Foot, In The
Bunt;
The fore-topsail went, in one rent, from clew to earing,
and was blowing to tatters; one of the chain
Bobstays parted;
the spritsail-yard sprung in the slings; the martingale had slued
away off to leeward; and, owing to the long dry weather, the lee
rigging hung in large bights, at every lurch. One of the main
top-gallant shrouds had parted; and, to crown all, the galley had
got adrift, and gone over to leeward, and the anchor on the lee
bow had worked loose, and was thumping the side. Here was work
enough for all hands for half a day. Our gang laid out on the
mizen topsail yard, and after more than half an hour's hard work,
furled the sail, though it bellied out over our heads, and again,
by a slant of the wind, blew in under the yard, with a fearful
jerk, and almost threw us off from the foot-ropes.
Double gaskets were passed round the yards, rolling tackles and
other gear bowsed taught, and everything made as secure as could
be. Coming down, we found the rest of the crew just coming down
the fore rigging, having furled the tattered topsail, or, rather,
swathed it round the yard, which looked like a broken limb, bandaged.
There was no sail now on the ship but the spanker and the close-reefed
main topsail, which still held good.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 328 of 618
Words from 89675 to 89928
of 170236
